The Carter’s V8 Supercar was in dominant form at the third and final round of the Three Hour ASKO South Island Endurance Series at Timaru International Motor Raceway on Saturday. The race was won by Matt and Dwayne Carter, breaking the race distance record held since 2006 by the Craig Cottle/Adam Macrow AU Falcon Supercar (159 laps). Second home and overall winner of the series was Angus and George McFarlane (Porsche 997 Cup R)
“We’re thrilled to have the win,” commented Matt Carter. “We didn’t qualify due to an oil pressure problem. In fact we didn’t complete a full lap before we started the race. Then we started from the back of the grid”
“It’s so good to win this series after all the hard work” commented George McFarlane “The car felt good all day and second behind the Carter’s is a great result.”
Spectators were treated to a highly entertaining race of two halves with four cars swapping places in the top four positions for the first hour and a half. The V8SuperTourer of Simon McLennan/Richard Moore initially held the lead from the Inky Tulloch/John McIntyre SaReNi Camaro GT3 with the McFarlane Porsche and Carters V8 also in the mix.
Unfortunately the Series leaders going into the round, Scott O’Donnell/Allan Dippie (Porsche 997 Cup S,) came to a halt after just 10 laps when the right rear wheel bearing went. “It sounded like a tyre delaminating,” commented O’Donnell.
At the half way mark it was the Carters V8 and the Tulloch Camaro neck and neck for the lead, with both cars pitting at the same time for a driver change, tyres and more fuel. While the Carters V8 re-joined the race, the Tulloch entry was held up in the pits when the car had to be moved back a metre into its pit slot.
The driver’s door hit the spare rear wheel bending the hinges, resulting in the team not able to shut it properly. A delay took place as the team attempted to tape the door shut, dropping them down several laps after re-joining.
“I’m gutted for Inky,” said McIntyre. “It was an outstanding first stint that he put in”
“Yeah, the car was really good and looking fine for the rest of the race,” commented Tulloch. “The door just would not shut, but it could have been a lot worse.”
Meanwhile the McLennan/ Moore SuperTourer took over the lead only to pit soon after, re-joining in third. Their efforts were to become undone when the car retired with gearbox issues after 100 laps.
For the final 63 laps the Carter V8 led from the McFarlane Porsche with the #23 Sam Fillmore/Danny Stutterd(Porsche 997 GT3) down a lap in third and McIntyre in the Camaro trying to make up time, setting a new lap record of 60..508 seconds.
With just 15 minutes remaining the McFarlane Porsche in second had done enough to secure the championship but was in a position to attempt a pass for the lead. However it slowed and Angus pitted soon after before re-joining and settling for second.
“The car was getting better and better and I thought we’d have a go for the lead then something didn’t feel right at the back of the car so I backed off,” commented Angus.
A delighted Carter’s team won from the McFarlane’s with the Fillmore/ Stutterd Porsche third ahead of the Tulloch/McIntyre fourth and second overall in the series. A solid and consistent performance saw the Darryl Barrett/Hamish Frew (Mazda RX7 V8) finish in fifth and third overall in the series.
The McFarlanes won the GT class with the Carter Falcon second and the O’Donnell Porsche third.
Overall Class 1 was won by Frew/Barrett from Scott and Craig McDermid (Toyota 86) with Paul Rickerby/Graeme Rhodes (Mazda RX7 V8) third.
Jim Wallace/Stephen Grellet (Seat Leon Supacopa) won Class two from Shane Helms/Rob Bolland (BMW M3 Turbo) with third going to the Moore/Gjaja/Mackersey Honda Civic Type R.
Tenth overall at Timaru and first in Class 3 & 4 was the Peugeot 106 of Mike Ham.
